–Because of Opposition’s stubborn stance on AMLFT Bill
FINANCE Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, last evening blasted the main political opposition party, A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), for waiting until the last minute to present their amendments to the controversial Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill.

What is even more vexing is that the proffered proposals not only have no bearing on the Bill at hand, but neither are they in keeping with any of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force’s (CFATF) Regulations.
According to the minister, APNU’s proposals are more in keeping with the Principal Act, which was passed unanimously since 2009 by the National Assembly.
Addressing the issue of the contentious Bill on the National Communications Network (NCN) programme, “Political Scope”, last evening, Dr Singh said:
“The Standing Orders say that the committee shall refer to the matters referred to it, which is the Bill amending specific sections of the Act… They don’t answer a CFATF recommendation; they have had a CFATF review, and they may very well put us in collision with CFATF standards.”
Contending that it is unfair that an entire nation of 750,000 people should suffer at the hands of 33 men and women in the National Assembly, Dr Singh said the international community’s position on the issue is clear: “Implement the law, you’re OK; don’t implement the law, you’re not OK.”
The political Opposition has, since January 2012, been in control of the National Assembly, yet nothing was brought before the legislature during all of this time. Despite public calls by the Government since May 2013, no action was taken by the political Opposition, until late Sunday night.
When the amendments were finally produced, there were two different sets, the minister said. “One by Mr. (Carl) Greenidge and the other drafted by Mr. (Jaipaul) Sharma. So they had to ask for the committee to be adjourned at 9pm for them to try to merge these two documents; and at that time, to try to brainstorm and think through what it is they were proposing at 9pm.”
The adjustments proposed by APNU, he said, are designed to inflict economic harm, and will pose grave consequences to Guyanese, according to Dr. Singh.
For instance, one the proposed amendments will authorise any police rank, customs officer, or anyone appointed by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to stop anyone deemed suspicious and seize whatever currency, as well as gold and any other valuables they happen to have in their possession at the time. Said the minister, “Can you imagine being stopped and searched, and having your cash seized because of suspicion? This is just one. And the others are equally perilous!”
Given the implications of what they’re dealing with, Minister Singh said an appeal was made to the Opposition to have the proposed amendments to the principal act reviewed by stakeholders and even by CFATF, but they rejected the idea, saying they were just not interested in that course of action.
Noting the years of hard work the government has put in to bring Guyana to its present economic state, and rebuild its international credibility, Dr Singh said:
“We are no longer a pariah State as we were under Greenidge’s superintendence of our economy, but it appears now that he’s out of office, that he wishes to repeat the feat that he accomplished while he was in office, because, instead of doing what is right and good for Guyana, and that is simply to support the amendments — on which there is agreement, and with which they have no problems — they want to hold the nation to ransom. And that’s a grave matter!”
The AFC’s posturing on the Bill also came under fire, as that party has called for a political concession in order to support the Bill. For the Finance Minister, this move is equally irresponsible as they are all Parliamentarians to serve people. “This is not a game we are playing, he said.
Guyana is set to be blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force if it fails to pass the amended Anti-money laundering and Countering of Financing of Terrorism Bill and will suffer from financial sanctions via international institutions. (GINA)